Tunnel structure and method of erecting same



May 23, 1933. J. C MEEM 1,910,997

TUNNEL STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTING SAME Filed Aug. 12, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENEORWM $5 BY 1 ATTORNEYS May 23, 1933. J C MEEM1,910,997

TUNNEL STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF ERECTING SAME Filed Aug. 12, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 32 Z1 INVENTOR yam C". mm

ATTORNEYS a Patented Ma 23, 1933 .mivrnsc mnmr, or 33601233611, NnwYoRK1 f ,mnnnnr sweeten Am) METHOD or mncrrrreseun invention relates tosub-aqueous t1l11 j nels, and has for its ob ects to-provlde a simplifietl and novel construction of tunnelsand tunnel sections, andialso newand improved i 5 lnetliojds of erecting and laying tunnelscoinprised insuch sections. F 1 0111 certain aspects iny presentinvention is animprovement ontlie invention disclosed in mypending, application S.N.469,386 filed July 21, 10 1930. i p

i 1T0 theaboveancl otherendswhiclrwill subsequently appear m inventionconsists in features andfmethods offconstruction, COIhandpreferablylcolnp letedaboi e the surface ofthe waterfandare subsequently submergedandpositionedona prepared sub aqueous bed ()rtfdundati'omWherethegtunnel is consti- 2 5 tuted by a plurality of sections thesections are successivelyfsunlt to position; and joined end toendifEachjof thesections is comprised agclo sed body or tunnel sectionproper and a buoyant-shaft or shaftsby which the sinkin of the sectionto position is contr alled. llhe tunnel element or section coinprisesend closures or dla-phragins which have flat outerplaneffaces to enablethem to be"properly jojnedend connected to contiguous tunnel sections,and one'of the specific objects of the present invention is to", provideani improvedfa-ntl simplified 'endf closure or out? diaphragm. v i

The buoyant shafts for controlling the 0 sinking of the tuiinelfi fi iionjby permitting 1 theiintroduction of water or other means forovercoming its buoyancy. have usually heretofore been connected; attheir lower ends with a chamber within the tunnel body, and in theinvention disclosed in my aforesaid in ipiicaiionfiiiee .eu ustie, 1932.Serial No. 628,486.

application 4 69,2386!tliecopposite ends or walls of this chamberihavebeen constis tuted by the outer diaphraginfland awallor bulkhead spacedinward "therefrom within the tunnel body and braceclto the diaphragm. Itis another object of the. present invention to improve and simplify theconstruction of the aforesaid chamber, and generally stated thisiniprovenient resides in extending the buoyant; shaft downward withinthe tunnel: body "andconnectingit to the bottom thereof so that:tliisextencled or base portion of the buoyant shaft (or shafts)itselfpconstitutes thewater receiving or flooding oha nber l Theinvention will be more specifically de+ scribed in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form and wherein v i1 j b Fig. 1 atop plan view partly insection of atunnel elenient orsection embodying the invention impart; 1 v i F1g. 2 '1s an I endelevation j partly in section ofthe tunnelsectlon Fig. 3:is afragmentary sectional view taken on a plane indicated bythe secthin line3-3 in Fig; Land looking in the direction of the arrows at said line;

F 1g; 4 1s a vlew corresponding to Fig. '3,

3 showing two tunnel sections joined at their abutting endclosures ordiaphragmsr Fig. 5'is a fragmentary horizontalsectional View taken onagplane indicated bythe section line 5 5in Fig. 4; and i 1 Figs. 6 and?are views{corresponding Fer spectively to Figs. 4 and 5 but showing theinternal portions of the end closures or abut- U110 (11a: lira HIS outout lea-Vin 0111' the b a i permanent outer pe'rlpher'al port ons of-theconnectin clianhra nis,

b 1 l b Each tunnel seotionas herein disclosed is generally rectangularin cross section, although tus tobe understood that its shape may bevariedwithin the scope ofthe inventron. The section l0 comprises an;exterior H shell made up of metallic flanged plates 11 arrangedlongitudinally of the tunnel section. The plates on the bottom of thesection have their flanges 12 upturned so that the bottom plates may lieflat against the ground or ways on which the section is erected, whilethe plates at the sides and top have their flanges turned outward sothat they may be suitably oined together at their flanges from theoutside. The bottomplates are similarly connected at their upturnedflanges within the body. The framework of the tunnel within the shell ispreferably of steel and concreteand is comprised of metallic beams 13laid crosswise on the up turned flanges 12 of the shell bottomand whichsupport vertical side columns 1 1 and intermediate columns 15, topcross-beams 16 being supportechon the vertical columns,'the.

described parts of the framework being suitably connected together.

In erecting the tunnel section, the shell plates llconstitu ting thebottom are first laid down on anerecting fioor or ways and connectedtogether, and the sides of the shell for a few feet up from the bottomare also erected. "Then preferably the inner framework Iii-16 is built,the sides of the shell being thereafter completed and the shell beingcontinued for a few feet inward on each side of the top, leaving thecentral portion of the top open, the shell being suitably secured to theframework within as by welded or bolted clips.- Diaphragms 'or endclosures previously built and next to be described in detail, are thenraised, placed across the ends of the tunnel section and secured to thebody :Jmean's preferably comprise adjustable ten-- in any suitablemanner as by internal devices and also externally as by welding,riveting, bolting or the like.

The said, internal devices or securing sion or tie-back bolts or rods 7spaced at in ternals around the tunnel and extending through openings inangles or plate washers Swhichmay be employed where required.

As shown, angles 8 are attached to web plates embodied in the diaphragm,and corresponding plate washers not necessarily of angle form may beemployed at the beams 13 and 16 Where the tie-rods 7 projecttheretlirough 1 ,(see Figure 1). The outwardly projecting end portionsof the tierods are'threaded to receive nuts 9 which when'tightenedsuitably join and tie back the inner perimetric or permanent portion ofthe diaphragm to the body of the tunnel and also suitably tie togetherthe interior structural framework. These series of tie-rods arepreferably stepped alternately from side to side as shown in Fig. 1. Ifpreferred, the tie rods 7 connecting the diaphragm with the structuralframework of the tunnelfbody may be applied andadjusted after theabutting dir phragms of adjacent tunnelsections have been permanentlyconnected together.

Each diaphragm or end closure indicated generally by the numeral 17comprises a row or set of metallic channels or channeled membersl8.These may be rolled unitary beams, or bars, or plates with attachedflanges, the term beam being used genericaL ly herein. The flanges 19 ofthe channel beams 18 are inturned when the diaphragm is vertically inplace, the channel beams then being vertically disposed. In erecting thediaphragm the channel beams or bars are laid with their flat facesdownward against ways or a suitable plane-faced erecting floor. Betweenthe channel beams are disposed web plates 20 having their outer edgesflush with the smooth outer faces of the channels, the

channels or beams and the web plates being the flanges 19 and theintervening portions of the web plates. It is to these web plates 20that the tie-rods 7 are attached. Secured to the inwardly extendingportions of the web plates as by riveting are upright stiffeningmembers, angles or angle bars21. These angles 21 are parallel with thechannel beams and are secured in pairs to the web plates in suchrelation that their inner o )positely extending angle portions provi eflat faces which are in a substantially uniform plane parallel with theouter fiat face of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is completed byproviding horizontally disposed integral bracing and holding members 22and 23 extending transversely near the top and bot tom of the diaphragmand parallel with each other at its inner side. Said members may be ofany suitable construction of the req uisite strength and weight, asunitary or built-up metallic elements, reinforced-con- :rete elements,or the like. As herein shown by way of example these bracing and holdingmembers are in the'form of heavy I- bcams or cross irders disposed withtheir flanges vertical and their webs horizontal, the inner flangesbeing secured by rivets 24 or other suitable means to the contiguousflanges of the angle bars 21 (Figs. 1 and 3). The top and bottom beamsor members 22 and 23. perform the important function of bracing andmaintaining, the outer face of the diaphragm comprised by the smoothouter faces of'the channel bars 18 to the true plane surface of theiroriginal buildings. It will be realized that by the present constructionas heretofore generally outlined, the diaphragm is relieved of thevarying pressure of the internal water column to which it was subjectedwhen it constituted a wall of the water chamber, since by the presentinvention the water chamber (or chambers) is constituted by the baseportions of the buoyant shafts, hereinafter moreparticulartail.-positionand subsequently raised to a vertical or erectposition andapplied; to the openend of the horizontally disposed tunnelsectionw i 5 The top andsides of theouter faceof the diaphragm aresuitably extended outward asn ndrcated at 18a to constitute a rimportion! which provides a boltlng area for the rece tion of bolts orrivets by which 1 the soon as the endsof the tunnel section mlOtalresealed by the diaphragms 1.7the section may be launched, small amount ofholding concretehaving first been placed in the bottom it founddesirable. The lower or base portionsof the buoyant or buoying shaftsnext to be described are then placed in position and suitably attachedto adjacen partsas by angles or plates Welded or bolted inl positionn pQ Base portions each designated as a yvhole why the reference numeral.25 are provided 3-.

for each buoyant shaft. Where the tunnel section isofconsiderable widthas illustrated herein there may be two buoyant shafts near each end,arrangedin pairs ;but. separated, 401: and if found desirable theseshafts, outside of the tunnel-may be connected bytie-rods orhsuitablebraces. The base portions or. a shaft bases may be anclypreferably are;

constructed outside thetu-nnel section and 453E erectedor emplacedtherein afterit has been floated. Each shaft-base as shown. clearly in,Figs. 1- and 2,1isanadefup of structural metal comprising plates ofchannel: bars 26 vertically disposed and suitably secured tol-gather asby Welding by. rivets 27! through thei'r flanged portions. Where, as thepresent instance, each side of the base 25 i islconstituted by a numberof these ele ments or channel bars. 26, it is desirableto provideinter-101' cross. tlesor other brac ng.

Asherein shown; the cross ties" are constituted by flat bars 28 securedat 29 to anchor plates-30 riveted" between the flanges of associateehannelbars 26 and projecting: into theflshaf t base.- Thetie bars 28are spaoed atintervals lengthwise oflthe shaft base 25 andthe sets ofbraci ng barspreferably alternate atright anglest o each other Withinthe' base; as shown. The upper end portion the bed ofthetunnel, which ishighly in" as indicated at 18d. of the shaft base '25 may terminate inseat 31" to Which the lower portion of the associate buoyant shaftproper is secured.

The completed base portions or shaft bases 26 are placed in positionfinthe tunnel sec tion and suitably attached to adjacent p'or tions of thetunnel body as by Welded or bolted clips. To insure rigid connections ofthe baseportions 25 with the body of the tunnel, .a bottom concretefilling indicated at 33, and upperconcrete filling indicatedat 3 l naybe employed. Thebottom filling 33 is solid, While the top filling 34 isformed with a suitable opening indicated at35. It Willbefobservedthatwhen in, position the shaft seat 31 of each base projects upwardabovethe tunnel shell; w

Afterthe launching of thesetion, a cone crete lining indicatedat 36 isbuilt, suitable formsbeing provided therefor. The layingof the shellplates ofthe roof is completed preferably While the tunnel. is afloatand with some of the concrete lining in place.

Buoyant shafts indicated generally by the numeral 37 are attached to theshaft seats 31, preferably prior to launching. These buoyant shafts areextensions of the bases or shaft chambers to Which they are' con? nectedthrough the openings and may beef substantially-the construction ofthebase portions 25. .Each' buoyant shaft may if necessary be composed of anumber of sections applied successively-one on top: of another andsuitably connected together.

W hen completed and launched, the tunnel section, virtually awash, isfloatedto position. over the prepared bed orfoundation. A piping andvalve system not shown herein of suitable construction for controlling.the flow ofwatcr to the base portions 25 may be employed,,and as aresult the tunnel section may be sunk under control to position on itsbearing bed, after Which divers mayy pull the section into contact-withone previously emplaced, the abutting diaphragms 17 being brought intoclose contact and permanently connected as by bolts 82tl1roughtheflan'ged peripheral portions or bolting areas 18a. Any spaces oropenings between the outer rim portions are sealed by packing, cal-kingor in any other suitable manner, indicated at 186. Thereafter thebuoyant shafts are unbolted and the openings35 sealed as by concrete andoverlying metal lic covers, and the valves and any valve openings areclosed. Later the tunnel is entered 1 and the inner portions of thecontacting diaphragms are cut out, after connecting by riveting orbolting the permanent peripheral rim portions (Figs. 6 and 7) Which maybe further secured as by interior bolting. Any openings around the inneredgesof these portions Where the diaphragms join. are calkedor otherwisepermanently sealed,

The outstandingrim portions 18a afford adequate means for connecting theabutting diaphragms of tunnel sections along the sides and top. At thebottom where there are no v outwardly extending rim portions I prefer toemploy a gasket 38 or a facing of viscous material, such as tar, whichmay be applied along the bottom outer face of the diaphragm and also, ifdesired at other portions of its contacting face before submerging, suchcoating or gasket being for the purpose of insuring a water-tightconnection between abutting diaphragms. The lateral re-inforcing meansconstituted by the lower bracmg beam 23 is relatively quite heavy andfunctions tov 153 hold the bottom portion of the diaphragm in closesubstantial contact with that of the contacting diaphragm to which it isbolted at the top and sides, as well as co-operating with the upperbracing beam 22 to hold the outer or contact face of the diaphragm in aflat condition or plane when it is lifted from the erecting floor andattached to the end of the associate tunnel section.

It will be observed that the base portlons constitute internal shafts orflooding or bers the sinking is better controlled both "lengthwise andwidt-hwise and the expense reduced owing to the simplification of theflooding chambers as compared with prior constructions.

I claim:

1. A tunnel section having an end closure comprised of flanged channelmembers having their flanges inturned to present a smooth outer surface,and cross beams spaced apart and arranged transversely of the channelmembers to hold the smooth outer surface in a true plane; and means forpermanently connecting the end closure to the body of the section.

V 2. A tunnel section having an end closure comprised of flanged channelmembers having their flanges inturned to present a smooth outer surface,and cross beams spaced apart and arranged transversely of the channelmembers to hold the smooth outer face in a true plane; and means forpermanently connecting the end closure to the body of the sectioncomprising a series of adjustable tie bolts spaced at intervals aroundthe tunnel section and each having one end connected to the end nelsection and each having one end connected to the end closure and theother end to the structural framework of the tunnel section, theperipheral portion of the end closure and the body portion of thesection being also additionally secured together.-

4. A tunnel section provided with an end closure composed of flangedchannel beams, the flanges being inturned to provide a smooth outersurface for the closure, inwardly extending web plates fixed between thechannel beams, angles secured to the inner end portions of the webplates in parallelism with the channel beams, and bracing beams disposedtransversely of the angles and secured thereto; and means for attachingthe end closure to the body of the tunnel section.

5. A tunnel section provided with an end closure comprised of uprightchannel bars with inturned flanges, upright web plates disposed betweenand secured to the flanges of the channels, upright angles secured tothe inner end portions of the web plates and having oppositely disposedportions in a general uniform vertical plane parallel with the outerface of the closure, and a pair of transverse beams arranged across theangles near the top and bottom of the closure, the webs of the beamsbeing horizontal and their flanges vertical and the flanges of the beamscontiguous to the angles being secured to their said oppositely disposedportions; and means for attaching the end closure to the body of thetunnel section. V Y

6. A tunnel section provided with an end closure comprised of uprightchannel beams with inturned flanges, upright web plates disposed'betweenthe flanges of the channel bars and riveted thereto; upright anglessecured to the inner end portions of the web plates and havingoppositely disposed portions in a general uniform plane, and a pair oftransverse I-beams arranged across the angles near the top and bottom ofthe closure, the webs of the beams being horizontal and their flangesvertical and the flanges of the beams contiguous to the angles beingsecured to their oppositely disposed portions; and means for attachingthe end closure to the body of the tunnel section comprising a series ofadjustable tie bolts spaced at intervals around the tunnel section andeach having one end connected to the end closure and the opposite endtorthe structural frameworkiof thetunnel section.

L ,7.. A tunnel section provided with an end closure comprised ofuprightchannel *beams *With inturned flanges, upright web platesdisposed betwecniheflangesof the channel bars :and rivetedthereto;upright angles secured contiguous to theangles being secured to theiroppositely disposed portions; and means for attaching the end closure tothebody of the tunnel'section comprising a series of adjustable tiebolts spaced at intervals around the tunnel section and each having oneend connected to the end closure and the opposite end to the structuralframework of the tunnel section, and sealing the outer meeting portionsof the closure and the contiguous closure to which it is joined. l i

8. A tunnel section provided with an end closure composed of flangedchannels, the

flanges being inturned to provide a smooth outer surface for theclosure, inwardly extending web plates secured between the channels,angles secured to the inner end portions of theweb plates in parallelismwith the channels, and bracing beams disposed transversely of the anglesand secured thereto,v and means for attaching theend closure to the bodyof the tunnel section, the periphcralportion of the closure extendingoutward provided with coatings.

beyond the sides and top of the shell of the tunnel section to provideareas for bolt holes, and the outer plane face of the closure being 9. Atunnel sectionhaving an end closure comprised of flanged channels havingtheir flanges inturned to present a smooth outer face, and cross beamsspaced apart from each other and from the channels and arrangedtransversely of the channels to hold the smooth outer face in a trueplane; and means .for permanently connecting the end closure to the bodyof the sectlon, the peripheral port-v tion of the closure extendingoutward beyond the sides and top of the shell of the tunnel section toprovide areas for bolt holes, and

: theouter plane face of the closure being pro vided with one or moregaskets or viscous coatings.

i 10. A tunnel section comprising dialphragms for closing its ends andjoining it to the diaphragms of adjacent tunnel sections, saiddiaphragms having their periplr eries extended at the top and sidesoutward Ybeyond the body of the section to provide bolting areas andhaving a relatively heavy ;cross beam arranged crosswise of it insideone or moregaskets or viscous an external end of the tunnel and nearthe' bottom to hold the -bottom insubstantialcontact with the contiguousdiaphragm of an ad acont tunnel section when .then' contactingdlaphragms are bolted at the top and sides.

11. A tunnel section comprising body and lend diaphragms having theirperipheries extended at the top-and sides outward beyond the body of thesection to provide bolting areas and having a relatlvely heavy crossmember arranged cross-wise of it inside and near the bottom to hold\thebottom insubstantlal contact with the contiguous diaphragm of anadjacent tunnel section when their COIlt-ELCUD." dl'a ihra ms a-reboltedat b i b i.

the top and sides, a coating of viscous material such as tar beingprovided across the outer faces ofeachdiaphragm prior to joining itstunnel section with the diaphragm of an adjacent tunnel section.

12. A sub-aqueous tunnel section comprising a bodyhaving closed ends, ashaft independent of said ends and extending downward into the body andbottoming on the bottoinofthe to assistin sinking the tunnel section toa submerged bed, and an external buoyant shaft connect ing With theopeningatthe top of said independent shaft.

13. A sub-aqueous tunnel body, said shaft being open a at the top andserving as a flooding chamber section comprising a -body having closedends, an internal loadingchamber of structural metal erectedindependently of the body and emplaced therein and secured thereto, saidchamber having an inlet at the top of the body, and an external buoyling structural meta]. chamher connecting to the inletofthe internalchamber, a

1 a 14. A sub-aqueous tunnel section comprising yalbody having endsclosed by *unitary diaphragms, ailoading chamber of structuralmetalerected independently of the body and subsequently mounted therein,said chamber havingan nlet-at the top ofthebody, and shaft connectingwith. said opening.

v 15. A sub-aqueoustunnel scctionconiprismg a body having closed ends,independent internal shafts arranged one near each end of the body andextending downward therein, said shafts having closed bottoms andterminating at their topsin shaft seatsexternal; of mthe tunnel body,and external buoyant shaftssecured tosaidshaft seats and opening intosaid internal shafts.

16. sub-aqueous tunnel section comprisng a body of rectangular crosssection and )rovided With end dia hraqms and internal shafts arranged inpairs, onepair near each body inside the diaphiragins, saidshaftshavingclosed bottoms and open tops at the top of the body, and externalbuoyantshafl's extendingupward from the body; in al gnment Wlilll sadinternalshafts and opening into said internal shafts, and extendingabovethe top of the water when the section is sunk to its foundation.

17. A sub-aqueous tunnel section compris- -ing a body having closedends, and shafts secured to the body and having internal portionsbottoming on the bottom of the body and external portions extendingupward outside the body, the shafts throughout their lengths being ofsubstantially uniform construction and comprising intermediate seatsfixed to the top of the body.

18. A method of building diaphragms for and attaching them to the endsof a tunnel section which comprises laying parallel rows of channels ona flat substantially horizontal surface with their flanges upturned,attaching thereto upright web plates, attaching angles to the upperportions of said plates parallel 'ltrl said channels, attaching crossbeams to the angles to hold the face of each dia ')hragm in a flat planewhen it is lifted, raising the completed diaphragms to verticalpositions and attaching them to opposite ends of the tunnel section byinternal devices, and also sealing them to the ends of the tunnelsections, the top and sides only of each diaphragm projecting outwardbeyond the rim of the tunnel section to provide bolting areas.

19. A method of building diaphragnis for and attaching them to the endsof a tunnel section which comprises laying parallel rows of channels ona flat substantially horizontal surface with their flanges upturned,attaching thereto upright web plates, attaching angles to the upperportions of said plates parallel with said channels, attaching crossbeams to the angles to hold the face of each diaphragm in a fiat planewhen it is lifted, raising the completed diaphragms to verticalpositions and attaching them to opposite ends of the tunnel section byinternal devices, and also sealing them to the ends of the tunnelsections, the top and sides only of each diaphragm projecting outwardbeyond the rim of the tunnel section to provide bolting areas, and thencoating portions of the outer face of each diaphragm with a viscoussubstance such as tar, and finally attaching a fiat gasket to an outsideportion of the bottom area of each diaphragm.

20. A method of building diaphragms for and attaching them to the endsof a tunnel section which comprises laying parallel rows of channels ona flat substantially horizontal surface with their flanges upturned,attaching thereto upright web plates, attaching angles to thenpperportions of said plates parallel with said channels, attachingcross beams to the angles to hold the face of each diaphragm in a flatplane when it is lifted, ra sing the completed diaphragms to verti- 4cal positions and attaching them to opposite ends of the tunnel sectionby internal devices,

and also sealing them to the ends of the tunnel sections, the top andsides only of each diaphragm projecting outward beyond the rim of thetunnel section to provide bolting areas, erecting shafts of structuralmetal independent of the tunnel body, the lower portions of said shaftsextending downward within the tunnel bodyand suitably attached thereto,the bottoms of said shafts being closed, the upper portions of saidshafts eX- tendiug upward from outside of the top of the tunnel body toabove the water level for buoyancy control, the lower portions of saidshafts providing loading chambersL JAMES C. MEEHV

